How To Choose the Perfect Stroller
Published on Apr 13, 2022
One of the most important yet challenging decisions you are likely to have to make when buying babycare products and equipment is your choice of stroller. It might seem that there is conflicting information at every turn, making it difficult to cut through the noise and find the stroller that will best match your lifestyle while keeping your precious bundle safe, secure and comfortable. You can spend an unlimited amount of time researching the various makes and models available, only to discover that there are more layers the deeper you look - so how do you know which is best without having to drive yourself to distraction?
If this all sounds (painfully) familiar then don’t fear, the best thing you can do to make things easier for yourself is to make sure you have a better understanding of what all the descriptive terminology actually means when it comes to stroller features and functions. Once you have this informational foundation you can then think critically - and realistically - about what you will actually need from your stroller, which will help to narrow down your options by a lot. You’ll be able to sort the features by which are essential, which ones would be nice extras, and which features you know you’ll never need or use.
Straight to the point with strollers
To clear up something that confuses many first time parents: one handed folding is not the same as easy-fold in the world of strollers. They may sound like they should be the same but trust us when we say there are clear differences that you need to be aware of. You might believe that one handed folding will be the easiest option but there are many well designed strollers out there that are incredibly easy to fold but do require two hands to do so.
In effect, one handed folding can be trickier and more annoying than using two hands with an easy-fold stroller. If you specifically need to use a one handed folding stroller then by all means choose one, but bear in mind that one handed does not always mean easy, and if you don’t absolutely need a one handed folding stroller then you might find a two handed easy-fold stroller serves you better.
One of the major selling points of strollers today is their compact size which makes them perfect for apartment life and for navigating the bustling streets of Singapore. Having said this, not all parents are looking for compactness as a matter of priority and it all depends on your preferences. Stroller sizes mainly fall into one of three categories: full size strollers like the Bugaboo Fox, city compact strollers like the Bugaboo Bee and cabin sized strollers such as the Bugaboo Ant.
It’s worth bearing in mind that the smaller the stroller the fewer features it is likely to have - so you may need to compromise on compactness or additional features depending on what is a higher priority for you. For example, an ultra compact cabin stroller is unlikely to have as much storage capacity as a full sized stroller. The main considerations to make when choosing the size of your stroller is how and where the stroller will be used. If you spend most of your time out in the open parks and public spaces of Singapore then you may well prefer a larger stroller, but if you often need to navigate tighter spaces and public transport then you’ll probably benefit more from a smaller stroller.
Something you may not have considered when looking at strollers is handlebar height. Some models will have fixed handlebars and if you or your co-parent are on the shorter or taller end of the spectrum then you might want to consider choosing a stroller with an adjustable handlebar for your own comfort. Having a stroller handlebar that is too short or tall can put strain on you and isn’t the healthiest choice for our backs.
The best way to know whether a stroller will be comfortable for you and your partner to use is to try it out in person, where possible. By getting up close and personal during a stroller viewing session you’ll have a better idea of whether it will be comfortable for you to use or not.